Butter-cutting machine



Sept. 7, 1943. RE. GUSTAFSON ET AL 2,328,300

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 28, 1958 dI/W I Sept. 7, 1943. R. E. 'GUSTAFSON ET AL 2,328,800

BUTTER CUTT ING MACHINE Original Filed May 28, 1938 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 foFHcE BUrTEit-oUTTm MAoHINE Rolf E. Gustafson and Milo H. Oviatt, Bay City,

1 Mich. Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

210,662, May

28, 1938. This application August 24,1942, Serial No. 456,114

6 Claims.

This invention relates to butter cutting machines, and more particularly to amachine for use in hotels, restaurants, eating places and other establishments for cutting individual butter patties of predetermined thickness.

One of the prime Objects of the invention is to design a sanitary butter patty cutting machine in which the blocks of butter are placed, whichis completely closed against dust, flies and insects, and which can be operated to cut the butter pat ties and deposit them onto a patty dish so that the butter is not touched by human hands.

Another object of theinvention is to design a butter patty cutting machine which can be readily cooled or refrigerated, which can be adjusted to out patties of difierent thicknesses, and which is of neat and pleasing appearance.

A still further object is to provide a butter patty. cutting machineprovided with an adjustable and removable butter tray having a plurality of butter troughs therein, which-can be readily shifted into position to permit cutting of the butter in the loaded trough when the butter in the first trough has beenexhausted, and from' which the tray can be readily removed for storage in a refrigerator 'when desired. 5

A further object still is to provide a machine of the nature described and provide-quickly adjustable feed mechanism for moving the butter in the trough as the machine is actuated, and further provide easily and quickly adjustable means for varying the stroke of the feed mechanism. f

With the above and other objectsinview, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made. in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any oi the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showingour butter patty cutting machine with the case omitted, the broken lines illustrating the movement of the feed unit or assembly.

Fig. 2 is an end View thereof, the broken lines showing the tray and end cam leverin adjusted position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the handle with the adjustable clip mounted ,thereon- Fig. 41 is an opposite end view to that shown 55 in Fig. 2 the broken lines showing the. operating lever in various adjusted positions.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the cooling pipes which can be connected to a uitable refrigerating unit.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail side elevational view of the feed rod support showing also the rod and retaining means. i

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device enclosed in its cabinet, said cabinet being shown with an inbuilt ice tray.

Fig. 8 is an isometric View of the feed block.

In hotels, restaurants, and the like, the handling of butter patties is not altogether sanitary; A large number of patties are cut at one time and placed together on a dish, the patties stick together, become warm and soft, and are exposed to "dust, flie and insects. Often, waitresses handle the patties with their fingers, etc., making an unsanitary proposition which is detrimental to healthand proper cleanliness, and-these'disadvantages we have eliminate'd'in our sanitary patty cutting machine which can be constructed of any desired size, and which can be cooledby ice or by connection to a suitable refrigerating apparatus on the premises. l

The instant application is a substitute for application Serial No. 210,662, filed May 28, 1938.

* Referring now more particularly to the"drawings in which we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, thenumeral I0 indicates a' case or cabinet of suitable size to accommodate the patty cutting mechanism, this cabinet is mounted on legs and is provided with a glass paneled door 12 in the front thereof to afford easy access to the interior of the cabinet so that the butter supplymay be replenished, or the tray removed for placing in a refrigerator, for cleaning, repair, or any other purpose.

A base I 3is mounted in this cabinet H! in any approved manner, and can be formed of wood or metal as desired, spaced apart transverse tracks l4 being provided on the base, and a tray: I5 is mounted thereon, transversely disposed grooves It being provided on the bottom face of said tray whichaccommodat'ethe tracks M so that the tray readily slides on said tracks.

The tray is formed as clearly. shown in Figs, 2 and 4 of the drawings, longitudinally disposed,

V-shaped troughs ll being provided in the face thereof, which-areof a size to accommodate an elongated mold of butter I 8, one mold being placed in. each troughgand when the one mold has been cut into patties, the tray is moved'into A laterally projecting member 23 is mounted on the lever 20, and a thin wire 24 is stretched between the end of said member and the lever I 20, and forms the cutting element, which, when the lever is swung down, cuts through the mold After the mold of butter in the first trough is exhausted, the operator opens the door I! and swings the clips so that the feed rod assembly, including the feed block 3|, can be raised; he then slides the tray on the tracks 14 so that the loaded trough is in position for cutting, then slides the block 3! back on the rod ZG' untilit is in the rear of the m'oldfof butter, and-he then'pla-ces the assembly again in brackets, then'the operator can resume cutting.

- We wish to direct particular attention to the fact that the patties are not touched by human hands, and that the butter is always cold and sealed against dust, flies and insects.

of 'butter and severs a patty-B of predetermined.

thickness, which drops onto: a patty dishlfi, all as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and '7 of the drawings.

Suitable means must, of course, be provided for feeding thebutter inthe trough as thelever is actuated, and this comprises a horizontally disposed rod 26, one end of said rod being mounted in an overhanging bracket 21 secured to the rear end of the base, the opposite end being mounted in a bracket 28 secured'to the end of the base. Slotted openings 29 are provided in the respective brackets, and are. of a size to accommodate the .rod, and a resilient clip 39. is

provided on'each of the brackets to prevent accidental displacement of the rod when the device is operated. l

A feed block 3| is mounted on the rod Hand is adapted to slide in the-trough ll, said block comprising-a metallic rod engaging member '32,

having an opening 33. therein to slidably accommodate the rod 28, said member being slightly bent as shown, and the feed block 3| is secured to the lower end thereof in any approved manner. Wings 34. are provided on the metallic member and engageteeth set in the face of the tray in positionto prevent the block moving backward in the trough when the rod 26 is actuated. L

The rod 26 is actuated by means of the lever 20, a clip 36 being mounted thereon (see-Fig. 3 of the drawings), which isslotted as zit-3,1 to accommodate a screw 38, the face. 39' of said clipbeing bent as. shown in Fig. 1, so that when the handle is swung down the cuttingelement 24 severs a patty from the mold of butter, fur ther, downward travel of the lever. causing the clip to engage the end of therod 26,- sliding it endwise in thebrackets 21 and 2-8 to the right as indicated in "broken lines in Fig.1, and also slightly tilting the feed block 3| (which is held by the teeth 35), also shown in-broken lines in Fig. 1. Then as the handle 22 is swung" back preparatory to severing the next patty, the .camshaped end of the member 4|, which is-providedon the opposite end of the shaft [9, enages the oppcsiteendofthe shaft 26', sliding it back to original position, andlthe member 32 being slightly bent, binds on the Shaft '26" and forces the block and butter mold endwise" inthe trough a predetermined'distance, corresponding to' the thickness of. the patty desired." Collars 42 are provided on' the shaft 26to eliminate the possibility of excessive end throw-whenthe han- (He is jerked or violently swung,the range of movement being indicated by the broken lines shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,"and' the clip 36 Jcan b'e'adjusted to adjust the travel of 'the rod 26, and consequently the thicknes ofithe Patty. i

; ing 4-3 which can be mounted in the cabinet beneath the base; and connected to any suitable refrigerating apparatus without interference with the tray or operating mechanism. Where no refrigerating apparatu is available, it may-be desirable; to use ice. for cooling, and under such conditions we provide a pan ,similar to a drawer, and place small pieces of ice therein, and thisprovides a -very satisfactory cooling arrangement. Under certain conditions, it may be desirable to remove the tray with butter therein and place it in a refrigerator at night, and this can be readily done by'merely open-1 ing the door [2, raising the rod assembly and slidingthe tray out of the cabinet. e

The device is simple, practical, and sanitary,

the cabinet is ofpleasingappearance, the pattiescan be cut to any desireclrthickness, they are always cold and firm, and-are protected from human contact, dust, fliesorinsects,

From the foregoing description, it will be ob= vious that we have perfected-a very simple, practical and economical sanitary patty cutting device. 1

tallydisposed rod, afeed block adjustably mounted. on saidrod; an operating handl mounted on the shaft, and means carried on each end of said shaftand engageable with the; ends of saidrod for. reciprocating it with relation to the tray, means on said rod for limiting. the endwise movement of the rod, and means carried by said operating lever for severing. a patty of butter when the'lever is actuated. 2. A patty cutting device of the character described comprising a base, a tray adjustably mounted on said base. and formed with a butter trough adapted to receive a mold of buttertherein, a shaft journale'd on said'base, brackets on' said base, a rod slidably mounted on's'aid brackets, actuating'mechanism mounted on the-opposite ends of said shaftand'adapted to engage the opposite ends of said rod in proper sequence for shifting it back and forth over said t'ray, a'feed block.- loosely mounted onsaid rod and slidable-in said trough, said block being .formed with wings engaging the edges 'ofthe trough, an operating lever on said shaft to-advance saidfeed'block on-the'troughon thereturnstroke of s aid lever, and'acutting elementonsaid' lever for severing a patty of butter when the operating lever is actuated; l

3'. In a patty-"outing device of tlie classdescribed comprisingacabinet havingra'base therein, transversely disposed tracks on said base, a removable tray provided with a plurality of butter troughs adjustably mounted on said tracks, each trough being adapted to accommodate-a mold of butter therein, a shaft journaled on the base, brackets on said base, a rod shiftably mounted in these brackets, an operating lever on said shaft, an

cating said rod, to progressively move said block in said one of the troughs.

4. In a patty cutting machine of the class de-- scribed and comprising a cabinet provided with a base, a tray transversely movable'on said base and provided with longitudinally disposed troughs, each trough being adapted to receive a mold of butter, a shaft journaled on the base, an operating lever mounted on said shaft, a cutting element carried by said lever, means for progressively feeding the butter in the trough to the cutting element when the lever is actuated, said means including a rod having a feed block slidably mounted thereon, means onsaid shaft and lever for positively reciprocating said rod when the operating lever is actuated, and means for adjusting the stroke of the reciprocating means.

5. In a patty cutting machine including a cabinet provided with'a base having a tray adjustably and removably mounted therein, troughs provided in said tray and adapted to receive molds of butter, a shaft, an operating lever mounted thereon, a cutting element carried by said lever, means for progressively feeding the butter in the troughs and including a horizontally disposed reciprocating rod having a feed block slidably mounted thereon, teeth on said tray and engageable by said block to prevent rearward movement thereof on the return stroke of the rod, and adjustable means on said lever and shaft respectively and engageable with the ends of the rod for actuating said block as the operating lever is swung, said tray being transversely adjustable on said base for selectively bringing one of the troughs into alignment with said feeding and cutting mechanism.

6. A patty cutting machine including a tray adapted to accommodate a mold of butter, a shaft, an operating lever mounted on said shaft, a feed mechanism including a horizontally disposed rod, a feed block loosely mounted on said rod, cam levers mounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the opposite ends of the rod in proper sequence to reciprocate said rod and progressively move said blockto feed the butter along said trough on the return stroke of the lever, means on said trayand engageable by said block to prevent backward movement of the block, and a cutting element on said lever for cutting said butter to form a patty as the lever is actuated.

ROLF E. GUSTAFSON. MILO H. OVIAT'I'. 

